J 


Early  Schools 


of  Braintree 


,fffoV-LA'S> 


By 

SAMUEL  A.  BATES. 


SOUTH  BRAINTREE: 
FRANK  A.  BATES, 
1899. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/earlyschoolsofbrOObate 


The  Early  Schools 


of  Braintree. 


By 


SAMUEL  A.  BATES. 

Vice-President  of  Quincy  Historical  Society;  Honorary  Member  of 
Weymouth,  Old  Colony,  and  Maine  Historical  Societies. 

Author  of  “ History  of  Biaintree,  Mass.”;  “Ancient  Iron  Works  at 
Braintree  ” (first  in  America) ; “ Revolutionary  Soldiers  of  Braintree,” 
Editor  of  “ Printed  Records  of  Braintree.” 


SOUTH  BRAINTREE: 
PRANK  A.  BATES, 

1S99. 


BOSTON  COEEEGE  MBRART 


CHESTNUT  HILL.  MASS 

iE29  1884 


Printed  by  the 

Weymouth  and  Braintree  Publishing  Company, 
Weymouth,  Mass. 


THE  EARLY  SCHOOLS 
OF  BRAINTREE. 


Soon  after  the  settlement  of  Massachusetts 
Colony  by  Winthrop  and  others  in  1630,  the  gov- 
ernment took  measures  to  insure  an  education  to 
every  child  in  its  jurisdiction  whether  its  parents 
were  rich  or  poor.  “An  order  of  the  General  Court 
made  the  3d  month,”  1636,  reads  thus:  “The 

chosen  men  of  the  townes  are  to  see  that  parents 
traine  up  their  children  in  learninge,  labor,  and  im- 
ployments ; if  not,  upon  presentment  of  the  Grand 
Jury,  or  other  information  of  their  neglect,  the 
sayd  Townsmen  are  subject  to  fine.  They  may  im- 
pose fines  upon  such  parents  as  refuse  to  give  the 
account  of  their  children’s  education. 

“With  consent  of  two  magistrates  they  have 
power  to  put  for  apprentice  such  children  whose 
parents  are  not  able  and  fit  to  bring  them  up.” 

“Every  township,  or  such  as  are  deputed  for  the 
town  affayres,  shall  present  to  the  Quarter  Court 
all  idle  and  im profitable  persons,  and  all  children 
who  are  not  diligently  imployed  per  their  parents ; 


3 


which  Court  shall  have  power  to  dispose  of  them  for 
their  own  welfare  and  common  good.”  The  above 
statute  reveals  to  us  the  views  of  our  ancestors  on 
the  subject  of  education.  It  clearly  shows  that 
free  schools  were  considered  one  of  the  corner-stones 
of  a good  government.  As  further  proof  of  this 
statement  the  town  of  Boston  (of  which  the  terri- 
tory of  Braintree  was  then  a part,  although  not  a 
Louse  had  been  built  within  its  limits)  on  August  6, 
1636,  held  a general  meeting  of  the  richer  inhabi- 
tants, at  which  money  was  subscribed  towards  the 
.maintenance  of  a free  schoolmaster  for  the  youth, 
'Mr.  Daniel  Maud  being  chosen  thereunto.  Among 
the  subscribers  are  several  names  who  afterward 
.settled  in  this  town,  but  did  not  remain  long,  the 
.only  one  named  who  became  a permanent  settler 
ibeing  James  Penniman,  who  built  a house  in  1637 
.at  the  foot  of  Penn’s  Hill,  and  left  numerous  de- 
scendants. 

This  throws  a little  light  on  the  manner  of  sup- 
porting the  public  schools  of  Braintree  a few  years 
later.  The  town  of  Braintree  was  incorporated 
May  13,  1640,  O.  S.,  and  so  important  did  they 
consider  the  question  of  a free  school  that  they  the 
same  year  ordered  the  land  recovered  of  William 
Coddington,  and  for  which  they  were  compelled  by 
the  court  to  pay  about  98  pounds,  and  which  con- 
tained about  143  acres,  to  be  called  the  School 
Land,  and  the  income  thereof  to  be  applied  to  the 
.-support  of  free  schools  in  the  town  of  Braintree ; 


4 


and  it  was  so  applied  until  Quincy  was  incorporated 
in  1792,  when  it  was  divided  between  Braintree, 
Quincy  and  Randolph.  This  land  must  have  been 
considered  more  valuable  than  other  lands  in  Brain- 
tree, as  the  town  was  compelled  to  pay  nearly  14 
shillings  an  acre,  while  Boston  was  selling  much 
land  for  3 shillings  per  acre.  It  is  probably  on 
account  of  its  being  near  to  tide  water,  and  conse- 
quently more  valuable.  The  early  history  of  our 
schools  is  involved  in  obscurity.  Only  in  two 
or  three  instances  are  they  even  alluded  to  for 
about  30  years.  In  1648  Henry  Flint  sold  the 
schoolhouse  to  Mr.  Doctor  John  Morley  with  the 
condition  that  if  the  said  Morley  should  remove 
from  the  town,  Mr.  Flint  should  have  the  house 
again  by  paying  the  sum  of  seven  pounds.  It  ap- 
pears that  there  was  a schoolhouse  occupied  by 
somebody  before  1648.  There  are  reasons  for 
thinking  that  Henry  Flint,  who  was  called  teacher,, 
was  the  schoolmaster  of  most  of  those  early  years, 
and  until  his  death,  which  took  place  April  27,. 
1668,  Doctor  John  Morley  may  have  held  the  posi- 
tion for  a brief  period. 

The  old  schoolhouse  of  1648  may  be  the  one  that 
stood  by  the  side  of  town  brook  and  near  the  meet- 
ing house  until  1701,  when  a new  one  was  built, 
and  the  old  one  let  to  Benjamin  Webb  for  the  stor- 
age of  hay  until  1716  when  he  purchased  it  of  the 
town  for  three  pounds.  In  Feb.  1668,  the  annual 
income  of  the  school  land  was  given  for  the  salary 


5 


of  the  schoolmaster,  and  make  it  up  to  twenty 
pounds,  besides  what  every  child  must  give. 

“In  1679,  Benjamin  Tompson  the  schoolmaster 
shall  have  this  year  for  his  salary,  thirty  pounds 
and  a piece  of  land  to  set  a house  on.”  It  seems 
that  it  was  not  the  commencement  of  his  teaching, 
but  rather  they  raised  his  salary.  How  long  he 
had  taught  we  know  not,  The  same  year  it  was 
agreed  that  every  child  should  carry  in  to  the 
schoolmaster,  one  half  a cord  of  wood  beside  the 
quarter  money  every  year. 

In  1681  he  was  paid  from  the  rent  of  the  town 
land  fifteen  pounds  and  fifteen  pounds  by  a town 
rate.  This  is  the  first  time  the  town  raises  money 
by  taxation  for  the  support  of  a school. 

In  1696  it  appears  that  he  had  not  been  paid  all 
his  salary,  but  the  town  voted  that  Benjamin  Tomp- 
son, having  kept  a grammar  school  many  years,  he 
should  receive  ten  pounds  in  addition  to  the  income 
of  the  school  land,  at  the  same  time  discharging 
the  town  from  all  former  debts  or  arrearages  to  this 
day,  excepting  what  he  can  obtain  of  the  rates  in 
constables’  hands  which  is  yet  due.  To  this  vote 
Benjamin  Tompson  dissented.  Benjamin  Tompson 
continued  to  teach  the  school  until  about  1699. 

August  18,  1699,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Ells  came  to 
Braintree  as  their  Town  schoolmaster.  He  taught 
but  one  year.  He  afterward  was  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Scituate,  and  died  August  25,  1750,  aged 
73. 


6 


Sept.  5,  1700,  Jeremiah  Wise  began  to  teach 
school  in  Braintree  for  the  sum  of  30  pounds  a 
year.  Mr.  Ells  and  Mr.  Wise  were  both  gradu- 
ates of  Harvard  College,  the  first  graduating  in 
1699,  and  the  latter  in  1700. 

In  1701,  the  town  voted  that  the  rent  of  the 
town  lands  shall  continue  as  part  of  the  salary, 
and  also  that  the  parent  or  master  shall  pay  five 
shillings  per  year  for  each  scholar.  Scholars  from 
out  of  town  shall  pay  twenty  shillings  a year.  Pro- 
vided also,  that  any  poor  person  who  shall  find 
themselves  unable  to  pay  can  have  an  abatement 
on  application  to  the  selectmen.  Any  deficiences 
that  may  arise  shall  be  raised  by  a town  rate.  On 
the  same  day  John  Veasey  was  elected  the  school- 
master, if  the  selectmen  can  agree  with  him.  He 
graduated  from  Harvard  in  1700.  He  was  prob- 
ably a native  of  Braintree.  He  taught  until  June 
1703. 

Mr.  Benjamin  Tompson  and  the  town  having 
mutually  agreed  to  settle  all  differences  between 
them  for  the  sum  of  five  pounds,  he,  June  12,  1700. 
gave  the  town  “a  mutual  and  everlasting  dis- 
charge.” He  began  his  second  term  of  service 
June  1,  1703,  and  continued  until  about  1709.  He 
was  a son  of  Rev.  William  Tompson,  born  in  Brain- 
tree July  14,  1642,  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1662, 
died  April  13,  1714. 

Samuel  Veasey,  probably  a native  of  Braintree, 
in  1690  made  a will  bequeathing  twenty  pounds  fo.i 


7 


the  maintenance  and  use  of  the  schools  of  Brain- 
tree. He  died  in  Boston  in  December,  1690.  A 
memorandum  made  by  the  selectmen,  March  6, 
1709-10,  says,  “There  is  fourteen  pounds  lawful 
money  being  part  of  Mr.  Samuel  Yeasey’s  gift  to 
the  school  in  Samuel  Payne’s  hand.  The  other 
part  being  six  pounds  is  in  Mr.  Samuel  Marshall’s 
hand  of  Boston,  merchant. 

In  1717,  the  town  voted  to  demand,  and  if  need 
be,  sue  Mr.  Marshall  for  the  money,  and  July  22, 
1717,  they  again  4 4 voted  Deacon  Moses  Payne,  the 
present  town  treasurer,  take  of  Mr.  Samuel  Mar- 
shall of  Boston,  four  pounds  in  bills  of  credit,  in 
lieu  of  the  six  pounds  yet  remaining  in  his  hands 
that  is  due  to  the  town  of  a legacy  given  to  said 
town  by  Mr.  Samuel  Yeasey,  in  and  by  his  last  will 
and  testament  and  give  said  Marshall  a full  dis- 
charge for  said  legacy.” 

The  second  schoolhouse  was  built  in  1699. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  that  year,  a vote  to 
build  was  passed,  but  four  persons  dissented. 

Since  the  building  of  the  first  schoolhouse,  the 
-centre  of  population  had  removed  southward,  and  the 
majority  of  the  voters  were  in  favor  of  having  the 
public  buildings  in  a place  which  would  accommo- 
date the  most  people.  In  May,  1699,  they  voted 
44  that  the  new  schoolhouse  should  be  built  in  the 
road,  between  Clement  Cook’s  house  and  Greg- 
ory Belcher’s,  hard  by  the  white  oak  tree,  and  the 
dimensions  should  be  twenty  feet  long,  sixteen  feet 


8 


wide  and  seven  feet  between  joynts.  Mr.  Caleb 
Hobart,  Deacon  Nathaniel  Wales,  Lieut.  Samuel' 
Penniman,  Ensign  Benjamin  Savil,  and  Sergeant 
James  Brackett  were  chosen  to  erect  and  finish  a 
new  schoolhouse.  The  selectmen  were  ordered  to 
make  a rate  in  order  to  the  building  said  school- 
house,  and  that  it  be  finished  with  all  convenient 
speed.  Thus  we  see  how  the  old  house  was  re- 
moved from  near  the  town  brook  in  the  hollow,  to 
the  foot  of  Penn’s  Hill. 

The  successor  of  Benjamin  Tompson  was  Samuel 
Fiske,  who  taught  in  1710  for  a brief  period.  He 
was  the  son  of  Rev.  Moses  and  Sarah  (Symmes) 
Fisk,  born  in  Braintree  April  6,  1689.  He  was- 
paid  June,  1710,  the  sum  of  8 pounds,  4 shil- 
lings. 

Joseph  Adams  commenced  teaching  during  the 
year  1710,  as  the  town  voted  November  28  of  that 
year  that  “Mr.  Adams  present  schoolmaster,  be 
impowered  to  demand  a load  of  wood  of  each  boy 
that  comes  to  school  this  winter.”  He  was  the  son 
of  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Bass)  Adams,  born  in 
Braintree,  January  4,  1689,  graduated  at  Harvard 
in  1710.  He  taught  for  about  three  years. 

He  was  succeeded  by  William  Rawson,  Jr.,  in 
1713,  who  taught  one  year.  He  was  a graduate  of 
Harvard  in  1703.  He  was  probably  the  son  of 
William  and  Ann  Rawson,  born  in  Boston,  Dec.  2y 
1682. 


9 


Nehemiah  Hobart,  a graduate  of  Harvard  in 
1714,  taught  the  same  year,  for  which  he  received 
38  pounds. 

Then  John  Cleverly  began  to  teach  in  1715  and 
continued  to  teach  until  1725  at  a salary  of  from 
40  to  44  pounds  per  year.  He  was  the  son  of  John 
and  Hannah  (Savil)  Cleverly,  born  March  9,  1696, 
in  Braintree,  died  May  5,  1763.  He  graduated  at 
Harvard  in  1715. 

In  1716  a vote  was  passed  that  a reading  and 
writing  school  should  be  kept  one-half  of  the  year 
beginning  the  first  day  of  October  yearly,  and  a 
convenient  school-house  built  near  the  meeting- 
house as  soon  as  may  be.  Nehemiah  Hayden,  Jos- 
eph Neal,  John  Ruggles,  Thomas  White  and  Jos- 
eph Crosby  were  chosen  to  see  the  vote  carried  in- 
to effect. 

The  schools  will  now  be  divided  into  three  dis- 
tinct parts  for  consideration,  viz.  : the  north, 

middle  and  south  precincts,  in  their  order. 

In  1725  the  selectmen  agreed  with  Mr.  John 
Cleverly  for  one  year  for  44  pounds  with  the  privil- 
ege of  hiring  Jonathan  Neal  in  his  stead  for  six 
months  of  the  time. 

In  1726  Jonathan  Neal  was  paid  for  teaching 
one  year  33  pounds,  6 sh.,  8 pence.  He  also 
taught  in  1730.  He  was  the  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Lydia  (Paine)  Neal,  born  in  Braintree,  Oct.  13, 
1700,  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1724. 


10 


In  1727  Jonathan  Mills  taught  the  school.  He 
was  probably  the  son  of  John  and  Hannah  Mills, 
born  in  Braintree,  March  2,  1702,  and  was  the 
same  year  settled  as  pastor  of  the  church  in  Bel- 
lingham. 

The  school  in  1728  and  1729  was  taught  by  Na- 
than Webb,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Susanna  Webb, 
born  in  Braintree,  April  9,  1705,  and  graduated  at 
Harvard  in  1725. 

In  1730  Jonathan  Neal  taught  as  previously 
mentioned.  He  was  succeeded  in  1731  by  Joseph 
Marsh,  son  of  Rev.  Joseph  and  Anne  (Fisk) 
Marsh,  born  in  Braintree,  Dec.  7,  1710,  graduated 
at  Harvard  in  1728.  He  taught  continuously  until 
1743. 

In  1744  Joseph  Cleverly  succeeded  as  teacher 
Mr.  Joseph  Marsh.  He  had  already  taught  in 
the  Middle  Precinct  about  five  years.  He  was  em- 
ployed as  a teacher  in  some  school  in  town  from 
1739  to  1763.  It  is  not  always  clear  where  he 
taught,  sometimes  in  the  North,  sometimes  in  the 
Middle  Precinct,  and  in  1761  he  taught  two 
months  in  Germantown.  He  was  son  of  John  and 
Hannah  (Savil)  Cleverly,  born  in  Braintree  April 
14,  1713,  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1733,  and  died 
in  Quincy  about  1802. 

He  became  unpopular  in  consequence  of  his  be- 
ing a tory  during  the  struggle  for  American  Inde- 
pendence. It  is  probable  that  he  taught  the  Latin 
School  until  1759,  for  in  1760  Zabdiel  Adams  was 


11 


hired  for  that  purpose  and  continued  in  that  posi- 
tion during  1761  and  1762.  He  was  the  son  of 
Ebenezer  and  Anne  (Boylston)  Adams,  born  in 
Braintree  Nov.  5,  1739,  graduated  from  Harvard 
in  1759. 

Joshua  Hayward  taught  in  1763,  son  of  Joshua 
and  Elizabeth  (Niles)  Hayward,  born  in  Braintree 
February  5,  1738.  Joseph  Penniman  taught  in 
1764  and  1765,  son  of  William  and  Ruth  (Thayer) 
Penniman,  born  in  Braintree  Oct.  5,  1737,  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  in  1765,  settled  as  pastor  over 
the  Congregational  church  in  Bedford. 

He  was  succeeded  by  William  Mayhew,  a gradu- 
ate of  Harvard  in  1767,  and  Oakes  Angier,  who 
graduated  at  Harvard  in  1764. 

Thomas  Edwards  taught  in  1772.  He  gradu- 
ated at  Harvard  in  1771. 

Joseph  Crosby,  son  of  Joseph  and  Anne,  born 
Feb.  9,  1751,  in  Braintree,  graduated  at  Harvard 
in  1772,  taught  in  1773  and  1774.  Nathan  or  Na- 
thaniel Pierce,  a graduate  of  Harvard  in  1775, 
taught  in  1775,  and  John  Thaxter,  Jr.,  in  1776. 

Jabez  Porter,  son  of  William  and  Phebe  (Dor- 
man) Porter,  born  at  Topsfield,  Feb.  1,  1723, 
graduated  at  Harvard  1743,  died  at  Randolph  Jan. 
28,  1792.  When  he  came  to  Braintree  I do  not 
know.  I first  find  mention  made  of  him  at  the 
birth  of  his  son  Samuel  in  1763.  He  taught  his 
first  school  in  the  North  Precinct  in  the  summer  of 
1767,  for  which  he  received  for  4 months  labor  the 


12 


sum  of  13  pounds  6 shillings  and  8 pence.  He  con- 
tinued to  teach  in  some  part  of  the  town  until  1772. 
He  again  commenced  teaching  in  1784  and  contin- 
ued until  1789.  During  a portion  of  his  life  he 
was  engaged  in  preparing  students  for  college.  He 
took  no  active  part  in  public  life  as  I do  not  find 
his  name  mentioned  but  once  in  the  proceedings  of 
the  town. 

Thus  have  I given  you  the  names  of  the  teachers 
of  the  grammar  or  latin  school  which  commenced 
soon  after  the  incorporation  of  the  town  and  con- 
tinued until  1789,  with  the  exception  of  about 
seven  years  during  the  revolutionary  war  when  I 
can  find  no  account  of  it,  and  presume  it  was  dis- 
continued. The  foregoing  brief  account  shows  us 
that  those  who  think  that  the  teachers  of  former 
times  were  exceedingly  illiterate  men  are  very 
much  mistaken.  Braintree  may  well  boast  of  her 
schools  and  her  teachers  in  former  times,  and  they 
can  also  boast  of  the  fathers  and  mothers  who  de- 
prived themselves  of  the  luxuries  of  life  in  order 
that  their  children  might  have  the  privileges  to  gain 
a good  education. 

I have  already  mentioned  the  schoolhouses  at 
Town  Brook  and  Penn’s  Hill.  In  1716  when  the 
reading  and  writing  school  was  established  in  the 
middle  precinct,  a vote  was  passed  to  erect  a house 
to  accommodate  the  grammar  school,  between  the 
north  meeting-house  and  Benjamin  Webb’s  land 
and  that  the  committee  chosen  have  power  to  make 


13 


use  of  the  glass,  stones,  and  bricks  of  the  two  old 
school-houses  about  the  two  new  ones.  But  in 
1717  the  vote  was  reconsidered,  and  no  school- 
house  was  built  as  contemplated  in  the  north  pre- 
cinct. In  1763  it  was  voted  that  a school-house  in 
the  north  precinct  “ be  erected  opposite  the  ten- 
mile  stake,  provided  Mr.  John  Beal  will  allow  a 
piece  of  land  in  exchange  for  the  land  where  the 
old  pound  stood.  ” The  committee  chosen  to  have 
charge  of  the  matter  were  Col.  Joseph  Quincy, 
Capt.  Ebenezer  Adams  and  Capt.  Benjamin  Beal. 
It  was  afterwards  voted  that  said  committee  have 
the  liberty  to  place  a stove  or  build  a chimney  in 
said  house  as  they  shall  judge  most  advantageous. 
These  three  houses  were  the  only  public  school- 
houses  built  by  the  town  in  the  north  precinct,  prior 
to  its  incorporation  under  the  name  of  Quincy  in 
1792.  A change  was  made  in  1757  in  the  number 
of  the  schools  in  town  as  seen  by  the  following 
votes  : “ Voted  that  the  Grammar  school  be  kept 

the  one-half  the  time  in  the  north  precinct,  the 
other  half  in  the  middle  precinct  the  ensuing  year.  ” 
“Voted  that  an  equal  sum  as  shall  be  necessary  for 
the  maintaining  a grammar  school  be  employed  un- 
der the  direction  of  the  selectmen  for  writing  and 
reading  schools  in  the  several  parts  of  the  north 
and  middle  precincts.  ” This  vote  remained  in 
force  until  April  24,  1775,  when  it  was  voted 
“that  the  selectmen  be  directed  to  dismiss  Mr. 
Rice,  their  Grammar  School  Master  as  soon  as  their 


14 


present  engagements  are  expired.  ” I find  no 
record  of  any  payment  to  Mr.  Rice.  The  manage- 
ment of  the  schools  up  to  1790  had  been  placed  in 
the  hands  of  the  selectmen,  with  few  exceptions  for 
brief  periods. 

But  in  that  year  a committee  of  15  was  chosen 
to  consider  of  what  schooling  may  be  necessary  the 
ensuing  year.  The  committee  consisted  of  Peter 
B.  Adams,  Esq.,  Lieut.  Seth  Spear,  Col.  Edmund 
Billings,  Lieut.  Elijah  Veazie  and  Dea.  Ebenezer 
Adams  for  the  north  precinct ; Lieut.  Edmund  So- 
per, Capt.  John  Vinton,  Mr.  Azariah  Faxon,  Maj. 
Stephen  Penniman  and  Capt.  Silas  Wild  for  the 
middle  precinct ; and  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Niles,  Mr. 
Joseph  White,  Jr.,  Samuel  Bass,  Esq.,  Lieut.  Seth 
Mann  and  Capt.  Elisha  Wales  for  the  south  pre- 
cinct. The  above  committee  reported  that  the  sum 
of  150  pounds  ($500)  be  appropriated  for  school- 
ing the  ensuing  year,  and  that  a grammar  school  be 
kept  three  months  in  each  precinct,  such  a master 
to  be  agreed  with  as  will  be  willing  to  teach  Eng- 
lish as  well  as  Latin,  and  also  writing  and  cypher- 
ing. The  remainder  of  the  money  to  be  divided  in 
each  precinct  according  to  what  they  pay  for  polls 
and  estates,  and  each  precinct  to  lay  out  their  own 
money  as  this  committee  shall  direct.  This  re- 
port was  accepted  May  31,  1790,  and  the  select- 
men directed  to  agree  with  a grammar  schoolmas- 
ter as  above  described. 


15 


In  accordance  with  the  foregoing  vote  Ebenezer 
Brackett,  probably  son  of  James  and  Mary  Brack- 
ett, born  in  Braintree  May  7,  1773,  and  Maj.  Sam- 
uel Miller  Thayer,  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Rebecca 
(Miller)  Thayer,  born  in  Braintree  April  19,  1761, 
taught  the  Latin  school  in  1790  and  1791. 

Prior  to  1758  but  one  school  was  kept  in  the 
north  precinct,  but  that  year  a reading  and  writing 
school  was  taught  by  Mrs.  Jonathan  Fessenden, 
and  again  in  1759  and  1760.  She  was  the  first 
woman  that  taught  in  the  north  precinct,  and  was 
paid  67  cents  per  week.  Susanna  Bass,  wife  of 
Jonathan,  taught  in  1767  and  1777. 

Benjamin  SaviPs  wife,  who  was  Mary  Blanchard, 
taught  in  1767. 

Mrs.  Abigail  Marsh  taught  in  1778. 

Prudence  (Spear)  Baxter,  widow  of  Daniel, 
taught  22  weeks  in  the  summer  of  1788. 

Mrs.  Jerusha  (Billings)  Glover,  wife  of  Elisha, 
taught  in  1775,  1786,  1787,  1788,  1789,  probably 
at  the  “Farms.” 

Mrs.  Samuel  Jones  taught  in  1789  and  1790. 

Mrs.  Sybil  Omond  taught  in  1789. 

Mrs.  Margaret  Curtis,  wife  of  Edward,  taught 
in  1790. 

These  were  all  of  the  females  who  taught  in  the 
north  precinct  of  whom  I have  any  account. 

There  were  other  males  who  taught  in  the  north 
precinct  besides  those  who  taught  the  Latin  schools. 
Joseph  Dyer  taught  in  1760  two  months,  for  which 


16 


he  received  five  dollars  a month,  boarding  himself 
it  is  supposed,  as  no  payment  was  made  for  his 
board.  It  is  possible  he  may  have  been  boarded  by 
the  parents  of  the  children  who  attended  the  school, 
or  as  it  was  called,  u boarded  around.” 

Joseph  Cleverly  taught  in  Germantown  two 
months  in  1761,  and  was  paid  $6.67  per  month. 

There  was  evidently  no  school-house  in  German- 
town at  that  time,  as  in  1763  a part  of  the  house  of 
Peter  Etter  was  hired  to  keep  a school  in  for  which 
he  was  paid  $1.67  by  the  town. 

In  1761,  Zabdiel  Adams  taught  school  at  the 
Farms  two  months  at  the  rate  of  eight  dollars  per 
month. 

Daniel  Arnold  taught  from  1769  to  1772  in  the 
north  precinct,  and  also  in  1777  from  3 to  4 months 
in  each  year  for  the  same  wages.  He  was  the  son  of 
Ephraim  and  Rachel  (Thayer)  Arnold,  born  in  the 
middle  Precinct  Dec.  3,  1725.  He  married  Jerusha 
Glover  of  Dorchester,  Oct.  4,  1763,  and  settled  on 
the  Old  Plymouth  road  near  Milton.  He  was  prom- 
inent in  town  and  church  affairs,  and  his  son  Sheriff 
Joseph  Neale  Arnold  will  be  remembered  by  the  older 
inhabitants.  But  the  most  prominent  of  the  teach- 
ers of  the  reading  and  writing  schools  of  the  north 
precinct  was  Samuel  Savil  who  taught  from  1768  to 
1791,  a period  of  23  years.  He  was  the  son  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Mary  (Blanchard)  Savil,  born  in  Braintree 
Aug.  2,  1747.  His  usual  pay  was  usually  about  $6.67 
a month,  but  in  consequence  of  the  depreciation  of 


17 


the  currency,  he  received  in  1781  for  teaching  6 
months  the  sum  of  900  pounds,  or  $500  a month. 
This  was  what  was  called  “continental  currency. ” 

In  1772,  Lemuel  Badcock,  who  afterwards  spelled 
his  name  Babcock,  taught,  and  again  in  1790  and 
1791.  In  1785  Josiah  Yeazie  taught  at  Hough’s 
Neck  two  months  at  the  rate  of  $8.67  a month. 
Ebenezer  Yeazie  taught  in  1789,  1790  and  1791. 
They  were  probably  natives  of  the  north  precinct. 

James  Bowers  taught  8 weeks  in  1791. 

March  15,  1791,  the  town  raised  150  pounds  for 
schooling  the  ensuing  year,  and  chose  a committee 
of  15  to  divide  the  money  between  the  three  pre- 
cincts. The  committee  chosen  were  Lieut.  Seth 
Spear,  Peter  B.  Adams,  Esq.,  Col.  Edmund  Billings, 
Lieut.  Elijah  Yeazie,  Dea.  Ebenezer  Adams  from 
the  north  ; Maj.  Stephen  Penniman,  Lieut.  Ambrose 
Salisbury,  Ebenezer  Thayer,  Jr.,  Esq.,  Lieut. 
Nathaniel  Thayer,  Capt.  Silas  Wild,  from  the 
middle;  Joseph  White,  Jr.,  Lieut.  Seth  Mann, 
Samuel  Bass,  Esq.,  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Niles,  Capt. 
Elisha  Wales,  from  the  south  precinct. 

The  proportion  of  the  north  precinct  was  $148.75, 
of  the  middle,  $142,  and  of  the  south,  $127.17. 

Benjamin  Turner  was  paid  $80  for  teaching  the 
grammar  school  from  June  6,  to  Dec.  10,  1791. 
He  was  the  son  of  Seth  and  Rebecca  (Yinton) 
Turner,  born  in  Braintree  Sept.  26,  1764,  gradu- 
ated at  Harvard,  1791,  became  a physician  at  Mil- 
ton  and  died  about  1831. 


18 


We  now  come  to  the  middle  precinct. 

The  children  of  that  precinct  were  compelled  to 
travel  a long  distance  to  obtain  their  education. 
The  nearest  were  compelled  to  go  more  than  a mile, 
while  the  farthest  lived  about  six  miles  away.  As 
early  as  1690  the  settlement  had  extended  south- 
ward as  far  as  the  railroad  bridge  on  North  street 
in  Randolph,  and  in  another  direction  nearly  to  the 
Holbrook  line.  But  the  citizens  of  the  north 
precinct  were  unwilling  to  remove  the  school-house 
farther  south  than  the  town  brook  or  as  they  called 
it  “the  heart  of  the  town”  until  some  years  later 
when,  as  we  have  seen,  it  was  removed  to  near  the 
great  oak  tree  at  Penn’s  Hill.  But  in  1716,  the 
people  of  the  south  end  of  the  town  rose  in  their 
might,  and  asserted  their  rights.  In  that  year  it 
was  “voted  by  the  inhabitants  of  Braintree 
regularly  assembled  that  there  should  be  a school 
kept  in  the  south  end  of  this  town,  for  one-half  of 
the  year,  each  year  yearly,  beginning  the  first  day 
of  October  yearly,  for  reading  and  writing  (besides 
the  present  grammar  school)  and  that  to  be  at  the 
charge  of  the  town.”  “Then  also  voted  that  a 
convenient  school-house  for  writing  and  reading 
be  built  and  set  up  in  some  convenient  place  in  the 
south  end  of  this  town,  near  the  meeting  house  as 
soon  as  may  be,  and  as  the  committee  hereafter 
named  and  appointed  shall  see  meet,  at  the  charge 
of  the  town.  ” The  committee  consisted  of 
Nehemiah  Hayden,  Joseph  Neal,  John  Ruggles, 


19 


Thomas  White  and  Joseph  Crosby.  That  the 
school- house  was  built  that  year  is  certain,  as 
“October  1,  1716,  the  selectmen  agreed  with 
Joseph  Parmenter  to  keep  the  school  at  Monatoquod 
for  reading  and  writing  half  a year  for  six  shillings 
a week  (1.00)  and  his  diet.  ” He  lived  with  Peter 
Hobart,  who  resided  on  the  east  side  of  Washington 
street  just  south  of  the  residence  of  E.  Watson 
Arnold.  In  1717  he  received  eleven  shillings 
($1.83)  a week,  he  furnishing  his  own  diet.  He 
was  the  son  of  Robert  and  Leah  (Wheatly)  Par- 
menter, born  in  Braintree,  Dec.  20,  1655,  died 
Feb.  20,  1737,  aged  81  years.  He  served  in  the 
office  of  Town  Clerk  28  years.  He  taught  school 
11  years,  or  until  1727.  He  fell  dead,  during 
divine  service,  in  the  pulpit.  The  school-house  in 
which  he  taught  was  probably  situated  on  the  20 
acre  lot  sold  by  Samuel  French  to  Ebenezer 
Penniman,  and  now  in  the  occupancy  of  Charles  F. 
Penniman  as  his  homestead,  in  the  conveyance  said 
to  be  “formerly  known  as  the  school-house  lot.  99 
Samuel  Hayden  was  paid  $10  for  building  the 
chimney;  Nehemiah  Hayden,  $13.33  for  nails  and 
labor;  Benjamin  Hayden,  $16.67  for  boards; 
Richard  Thayer,  $3.67  for  boards;  and  upon 
settlement,  Nehemiah  Hayden  was  allowed  $3.33 
for  something  unexplained,  making  a total  of  $47. 
The  first  school-house  in  Braintree  cost  $47  in  1716, 
the  last  in  1892,  about  $33,000.  To  show  the 
relative  amount  paid  by  each  precinct  that  year,  it 


20 


is  only  necessary  to  say  that  a rate  was  laid  in 
1716,  of  which  the  north  precinct  paid  $9.91,  and 
south  $8.88.  This  school-house  was  used  by  the 
town  for  47  years.  But  in  1763,  the  town  “voted 
that  there  be  a school-house  built  in  each  precinct 
at  the  expense  of  the  town.  ” The  committee  to 
plan  the  bigness  of  the  houses,  the  manner  in  which 
they  should  be  built,  and  to  let  out  the  building  to 
the  lowest  bidder. 

The  doing  of  the  committee,  namely  : — Samuel 
Niles,  Esq.,  Capt.  John  Hayward  and  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Wales,  are  unknown  to  your  humble 
servant,  with  the  exception  that  a school-house  was 
built  according  to  the  vote  of  the  town,  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  Benjamin’s  Hayden's  land  at 
the  lane  leading  to  Mr.  Lemuel  Thayer’s.  This 
house  was  on  the  corner  of  what  is  now  Washington 
and  West  streets.  It  was  the  only  school-house 
owned  by  the  town  in  the  middle  precinct  prior  to 
the  incorporation  of  Quincy  and  Randolph.  Some 
40  years  after  its  erection  it  was  sold  to  Ebenezer 
Thayer,  Esq.,  who  let  it  for  a dwelling,  after  re- 
moving it  below  the  Lyceum  on  Washington  street. 

Atherton  Wales  succeeded  Joseph  Parmenter  as 
teacher  in  the  Middle  Precinct,  and  taught  13  years. 
He  was  the  son  of  Elder  Nathaniel  and  Joanna 
(Faxon)  Wales,  born  in  Braintree,  March  8,  1704, 
graduated  at  Harvard  1726,  married  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  Samuel  Niles,  Nov.  5,  1730,  and  was 
settled  afterwards  as  pastor  of  the  church  in  Marsh- 


21 


field.  Ill  1737  he  agreed  “to  teach  the  school  the 
full  year  of  12  months  for  56  pounds  if  he  moved 
four  months  in  the  year  in  any  part  of  the  precinct 
from  the  schoolhouse,  (and  if  not)  then  he  is  to 
have  but  fifty  pounds. ” As  he  was  paid  but  50 
pounds,  it  may  be  presumed  that  the  school  was 
kept  in  the  town  schoolhouse. 

In  1740  Elisha  Niles  was  the  teacher.  He  was 
the  son  of  Rev.  Samuel  Niles,  born  in  Braintree, 
July  30,  1719,  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1739, 
served  as  Town  Clerk  and  Treasurer  from  1753  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  took  place  July  1,  1776. 
His  body  lies  in  the  burial  place  on  Dyer’s  Hill. 
He  was  a prominent  citizen,  and  an  ardent  patriot. 
He  taught  in  the  public  schools  of  Braintree  23 
years,  although  not  continuously,  but  from  1740  to 
1769. 

The  first  agreement  made  with  Elisha  Niles  was 
that  he  should  keep  school  one  year  for  66  pounds, 
and  to  remove  and  keep  the  school  in  three  sev- 
eral places  if  he  be  desired  and  provision  made 
for  it.  Again,  in  1741  he  engaged  to  move  twice, 
viz.  : to  the  ironworks  and  near  Nathaniel  Thayer’s. 
At  this  time  dwellings  had  sprung  up  through  Com- 
mercial, Liberty,  Middle,  Peach,  South  Washington, 
Pond,  West  and  Plain  streets,  and  the  residents 
wished  for  schools  nearer  their  homes.  They  were 
obliged  to  furnish  a room  in  which  the  school  was 
kept,  sometimes  in  a private  house  and  sometimes 
in  a small  building  erected  by  subscription  for  that 


22 


purpose.  One  of  these  buildings  was  built  near 
Nathaniel  Thayer’s  at  the  parting  of  the  ways ; 
that  is,  what  is  now  the  corner  of  Washington  and 
Pond  streets.  About  1755  a schoolhouse  was  built 
on  Commercial  street  by  the  residents  of  East 
Braintree.  In  1746  the  house  of  Dea.  James  Pen- 
niman  w'as  hired  for  that  purpose.  He  resided  on 
Town  street,  near  the  old  Almshouse.  At  a later 
date  a house  was  built  near  the  Randolph  line  to 
accommodate  a part  of  the  south  precinct.  In  1756 
Widow'  Abigail  Thayer  was  paid  50  cents  for  to 
make  good  the  damage  done  to  her  windows  in  the 
time  when  a school  was  kept  at  her  house. 

The  school  in  James  Penniman’s  house  was 
opened  Jan.  7,  1746,  and  kept  until  March  22,  and 
was  taught  by  Dea.  James  Penniman.  He  was  the 
son  of  James  and  Abigail  (Thayer)  Penniman,  born 
in  Braintree  Dec.  1,  1708,  graduated  at  Harvard, 
1730;  married  Dorcas  Vinton  in  1728;  died  May 
24,  1788,  and  had  by  her  11  children.  He  taught 
35  years  in  succession,  that  is  from  2 to  3 months 
each  year.  His  pay  was  $6.67  per  month  usually. 

Ephraim  Arnold  taught  first  in  1747,  and  taught 
until  1754.  He  was  the  son  of  Ephraim  and  Rachel 
(Mekusett)  Arnold,  born  in  Braintree,  Jan.  28, 
1723.  The  same  year  Nathaniel  Wales  taught  but 
was  only  a yearling. 

Azariah  Faxon  taught  in  1754  and  again  from 
1770  to  1787,  a period  of  11  years  in  all.  He  was 
the  son  of  Richard  and  Anna  (Brackett)  Faxon 


23 


born  in  Braintree,  March  23,  1731’,  graduated  at 
Harvard  in  1752,  and  died  July  2,  1802. 

A person  by  the  name  of  Cheever  taught  in  the 
year  1751.  1 have  no  further  account  of  him.  Isaac 

Doggett  taught  in  1753,  but  I do  not  know  whether 
it  was  the  father  or  the  son,  as  there  were  two  of 
that  name. 

Thomas  Allen  taught  in  1755,  probably  at  the 
Iron- works. 

Jonathan  Allen  taught  in  1756  and  1757.  They 
were  both  natives  of  Braintree. 

Dea.  Moses  French  taught  first  in  1757,  and 
taught  1 6 years  in  winter,  but  not  continuously. 
He  was  the  son  of  Moses  and  Esther  (Thayer) 
French,  born  in  Braintree  Sept.  16,  1731,  and  died 
January  19,  1807. 

About  the  year  1752  there  appears  to  have  been 
some  dissatisfaction  in  the  management  of  the 
schools  in  the  middle  precinct.  They  had  hitherto 
been  managed  by  the  selectmen. 

At  a special  meeting  held  May  18,  1752,  it  was 
voted  that  the  school  in  the  middle  precinct  be 
ordered  by  a committee  to  be  chose  from  the  said 
precinct,  and  Samuel  Niles,  Jr.,  William  Penniman 
and  John  Hayward  were  chosen.  This  committee 
engaged  five  females  to  teach  school  in  the  summer, 
three  months  each,  in  different  parts  of  the  town. 
They  were  paid  at  the  rate  of  $2.41  per  month, 
with  a single  exception.  One  of  them  received 
$2.80  per  month.  These  were  the  first  females 


24 


employed  by  the  town  of  Braintree  as  teachers. 
But  it  seems  it  did  not  give  general  satisfaction,  as 
the  next  year  the  selectmen  were  to  manage  the 
schools  and  no  female  teachers  were  employed  again 
until  1755.  After  that  year,  summer  schools 
taught  by  females,  became  the  custom  and  were 
continued  until  the  separation  of  the  town. 

The  first  female  teachers  were  Mrs.  Susanna, 
wife  of  Samuel  Wild  ; Mrs.  Mary  Hayward ; Mrs. 
Mary  Jones ; Mrs.  John  Ludden  and  Mrs.  Ruth 
Capen. 

Mrs.  Susanna  Wild  taught  probably  in  Liberty 
street  25  years  until  1779  from  2 to  4 months  each 
year. 

Mrs.  Mary  Hayward  about  4 years ; Mrs.  Mary 
Jones,  only  1 year. 

Mrs  Ruth,  wife  of  John  Ludden,  until  1790,  a 
period  of  32  years. 

Mrs.  Ruth  Capen  but  a single  year. 

But  the  female  teachers  are  so  numerous  that  I 
have  space  to  mention  only  the  names  and  dates  of 
the  others.  Mrs.  Sarah  Arnold  ; Mrs.  Mary,  wife 
of  Boylston  Adams,  6 years ; Mrs.  Mercy 
Brackett ; Anna,  wife  of  Ephraim  Arnold  ; Mrs. 
Sarah  Collins  ; Hannah,  wife  of  Eliot  Clark  ; wife 
of  Ebenezer  Clark,  6 years  ; Elizabeth  Capernaum 
in  the  Pond  street  school-house  ; Hannah  Chessman  ; 
Mary  Doubleday  at  the  Ironworks ; Mrs.  Mary 
Denton  ; Mary,  wife  of  James  Faxon  ; Sarah  Faxon  ; 
Elizabeth  French  ; wife  of  Samuel  Holbrook ; Mrs. 


25 


Samuel  Holbrook,  Widow  Rebecca  Hunt;  Mrs. 
James  Hollis;  Mrs.  Jacob  Hayden;  Mrs.  Margaret 
Hayward  ; Mrs.  Samuel  Hunt ; Mrs.  Sarah  Hay- 
ward ; Mrs.  Hannah  Hayward;  Mr3.  Caleb  Hunt ; 
Widow  Sarah  Hayden ; Widow  Jane  Noyes;  Mrs. 
Samuel  Newcomb ; Mrs.  Meshech  Penniman ; 
Miss  Penniman ; Esther  Richardson  at  the  Iron- 
works ; Abigail  Richards ; Mrs.  Richard  Thayer ; 
daughter  of  Richard  Thayer ; Mrs.  Samuel  W. 
Thayer;  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Thayer,  in  her  own  house; 
Mrs.  Asa  Wild ; Mrs.  Silas  Wild,  9 years.  Mrs. 
Mary  Vinton;  Hannah  Wales  in  the  schoolhouse 
near  Ensign  John  Hollis,  Middle  street,  in  1783. 

These  were  the  persons  who  as  teachers  in  our 
public  schools  moulded  the  characters  of  the  rising 
generation.  Uneducated  as  they  must  have  been, 
they  taught  only  the  simpler  branches  of  educa- 
tion, such  as  reading,  writing  and  a slight  knowl- 
edge of  numbers.  The  main  study  taught  was  the 
Assembly’s  Shorter  Catechism.  One  can  imagine 
how  much  education  a child  could  get  in  the  short 
space  of  three  months  in  each  year,  under  a teacher 
whose  pay  was  from  62  cents  to  one  dollar  per 
week.  Besides  these  summer  schools  they  had 
from  two  to  three  months  in  the  winter  taught  by 
male  teachers  for  the  larger  scholars  in  the  town,  of 
some  of  these  teachers  I have  already  spoken. 

Samuel  Clark,  son  of  Hobart  Clark,  taught  in 
1773  and  1774  for  $6.67  per  month.  William 
Clark  taught  in  1760,  six  months  for  $50.  Hobart 


26 


Clark  taught  at  the  Ironworks  6 years.  John 
Cleverly  at  the  same  place  in  1766  and  1767.  John 
French  taught  in  1790  Dr.  Daniel  Fogg  in  1782 
and  1789.  Samuel  Holbrook  in  1776.  Benjamin 
Hayden,  Jr.,  taught  three  years  and  his  brother 
Zebah  Hayden  4 years.  Jonathan  Mills  taught  1 
year,  Maj.  Jeremiah  Niles  3 years,  Rev.  Joseph 
Penniman  taught  7 years,  William  Penniman,  Jr.,  3 
years,  Israel  Peaks,  Jr.,  1 year,  Stephen  Penniman 
1 year,  Edmund  Soper  5 years  at  the  Ironworks, 
Ambrose  Salisbury  1 year  at  the  same  place. 
Samuel  M.  Thayer  6 years,  Elisha  Thayer  a num- 
ber of  years,  Atherton  Thayer  1 year,  John 
Thomas,  Jr.,  taught  11  years,  Calvin  Thayer  2 
years,  Lieut  Nathaniel  Thayer  5 years  in  his  own 
house,  Benjamin  Turner  2 years,  who  was  a gradu- 
ate from  Harvard  in  1791,  Thomas  White  8 years 
at  the  Ironworks,  Capt.  Nathaniel  Wales  3 years, 
Ludovicus  Weld  1 year. 

The  winter  schools  were  from  two  to  three 
months  in  length  each  year,  and  the  average  pay  of 
the  teacher  $6.67  per  month. 

The  South  Precinct  now  composed  of  the  towns 
of  Randolph  and  Holbrook  was  not  settled  until 
after  1700  with  the  exception  of  a few  houses  on 
what  is  now  North  street  in  Randolph.  The  valley 
of  the  Cochato  was  bought  by  the  town  of  Brain- 
tree of  the  town  of  Boston  about  the  year  1700  and 
a few  years  after  divided  among  the  inhabitants  of 
Braintree.  The  settlements  were  made  mostly  by 


27 


Braintree  men  from  the  other  precincts.  From  the 
north  precinct  came  families  by  the  names  of 
Paine,  Nightingale,  Spear,  Bass  and  Belcher. 
From  the  middle  precinct  came  Niles,  Thayer,  Hay- 
ward, French,  Wales,  Bagley,  Penniman,  Curtis, 
Hayden  and  Copeland.  In  1728  the  precinct  had 
increased  to  some  30  families,  and  desired  to  have 
a school  established  in  their  midst  but  the  town 
refused  so  to  do,  neither  would  they  abate  their  tax 
in  supporting  the  schools  in  the  other  precincts, 
although  they  were  compelled  to  send  their  children 
about  5 miles  to  the  grammar  school  and  7 miles  to 
the  Latin  school.  July  27,  1730,  an  allowance  of  8 
pounds  was  made  from  the  town  treasury  towards 
supporting  a school  in  the  new  south  precinct,  May 
21,  1 733,  they  were  allowed  to  draw  out  of  the 
town  treasury  so  much  of  the  rents  of  the  town 
land  and  the  interest  money  their  part  according  to 
what  they  are  rated  in  the  town  rate.  It  is  prob- 
able that  their  proportion  was  paid  to  them  al- 
though no  order  was  paid  by  the  town  as  appears 
by  the  records  until  Feb.  16,  1741,  wdien  Thomas 
French  and  Peter  Thayer  were  paid  22  pounds,  2 
shillings  and  three  pence  as  the  proportion  of  the 
precinct.  In  1745  their  proportion  was  8 pounds, 
5 shillings.  From  1740  to  1745  there  was  a finan- 
cial crisis  and  money  was  in  old  tenor  and  new 
tenor  bills.  Old  tenor  bills  were  worth  about  33 
cents  on  the  dollar,  so  that  24  pounds  in  old  tenor 
money  was  worth  only  8 pounds  in  new  tenor  cur- 


28 


rency.  It  was  not  until  1763  that  the  south  pre- 
cinct was  admitted  to  equal  privileges,  when  the 
town  built  3 new  school-houses  at  the  town’s  ex- 
pense. The  south  precinct  had  liberty  to  provide 
a place  to  erect  said  school-house,  Dea.  Thomas 
Wales,  Dr.  Moses  Baker  and  Dea.  Samuel  Bass 
were  the  committee  who  had  the  matter  in  charge. 
This  was  the  only  school-house  built  by  the  town 
in  the  south  precinct.  There  were  others  probably 
built  by  private  neighborhood  subscription.  Four 
schools  were  kept  in  different  parts  of  the  precinct, 
but  I cannot  locate  them. 

The  teachers  were  as  follows  : 

Ebenezer  Alden,  M.  D.,  1786,  1787,  1788,  1790, 
Samuel  Allen,  1779,  Ebenezer  Crane,  1770,  Na- 
thaniel Brown  1776,  Josiah  Babcock  1773,  1774, 
James  Babcock,  1772,  Samuel  Bass  1784,  John 
French  1787,  Elijah  French  1785,  1786,  John  Fax- 
on 1786,  Joshua  Hayward  1770,  1772,  1774,  1775, 
Andrew  Hunt  1770,  1771,  1772,  1775,  1777,  1781, 
Edward  Jones  1771,  Maj.  Jeremiah  Niles  1789, 
Jabez  Porter  1769,  1770,  1771,  1772,  1785,  1786, 
Samuel  Savil  1772,  1776,  Eliphalet  Sawin,  Jr. 
1788.  He  died  the  same  year  teaching  only  6 
weeks.  Isaac  Thayer  1772,  1773,  1774,  1775, 

1776,  1777,  1778,  1779,  1782,  Moses  Taft,  Jr. 

1777,  1778.  Eleazer  Taft  1778,1781,  1782,  Phin- 
eas  Taft  1784,  1787,  1788,  Jabez  Thayer  1771, 
1775,  Bartholomew  Thayer  1780,  1785,  Zaccheus 
Thayer  1772,  1774,  1780,  1783,  1784,  1788,  1789, 


29 


1790,  Seth  Turner,  Jr.  1782,  1783,  1784,  1785, 
1787,  1788,  1789,  1790,  Benjamin  Turner  1791, 
Benjamin  Webb  1777,.  Capt.  Jacob  Wales  1781, 
Daniel  Wild  1786,  1787,  1789. 

Female  teachers  were  : Reliance  Allen  2 years, 
Esther  Dyer  3 years,  Mrs.  Emms  1 year,  Mrs. 
Ephraim  Hunt  3 years,  Ruth  Porter  2 years,  Mary 
Porter  1 year,  Polly  Davenport  Packard,  who  after- 
wards married  Thomas  White,  1 year,  Mrs.  Josiah 
Thayer  1 year,  Phebe  Thayer,  5 years,  Sukey  Taft 
2 years,  Kate  Taft  2 years,  Sally  Turner  2 years, 
Hannah  Wild  2 years,  Abigail  Wales  2 years,  Mrs. 
Micah  White  1 year,  Mrs.  Simeon  Hayward,  2 
years. 

The  above  sketch  brings  the  reader  down  to  the 
separation  of  the  towns  in  1792. 


INDEX  TO  TEACHERS. 


T- 


Angier,  Oakes  . . . 

12 

Alden,  Ebenezer  . . 

29 

Allen,  Jonathan  . . . 

24 

Thomas  .... 

24 

Reliance  .... 

30 

Samuel  ... 

29 

Adams,  Joseph  . . . 

9 

Mrs.  Mary  . 

25 

Zabdiel  . . .11, 

17 

Arnold,  Mrs.  Anna  . . 

25 

Daniel 

17 

Ephraim  .... 

23 

Mrs.  Sarah  . . . 

25 

Babcock,  Josiah  . . . 

29 

James  .... 

29 

Lemuel  .... 

18 

Badcock,  Lemuel  . . 

18 

Bass,  Mrs  Jonathan  . 

16 

Mrs.  Susannah 

16 

Samuel  .... 

29 

Baxter,  Mrs.  Prudence 

(Spear)  . . 

16 

Blanchard,  Mary  . . 

16 

Bowers,  James  . . . 

18 

Brackett,  Ebenezer 

16 

Mrs.  Mercy  . . . 

25 

Brown,  Nathaniel  . . 

29 

Capen,  Mrs.  Ruth  . . 25 

Capernaum,  Elizabeth  . 25 

Cheever, 24- 

Chessman,  Hannah  . . 25 

Clark,  Samuel  ...  26 

Hobart  ....  26 
William  ....  26 

Mrs.  Ebenezer  . . 25 

Mrs.  Hannah  . . 25 

Cleverly,  Joseph  . 11,  17 
John  . . . . 10,  27 

Collins,  Mrs.  Sarah  . 25 
Crane,  Ebenezer  . . 29 

Crosby,  Joseph  ...  12 

Curtis,  Mrs.  Margaret  16 
Denton,  Mrs.  Mary  . 25 

Doggett,  Isaac  ...  24 

Doubleday,  Mary  . . 25 

Dyer,  Esther  ....  30 

Joseph  ....  16 

Edwards,  Thomas  . . 12 

Ells,  Nathaniel  ...  6 

Emms,  Mrs 30 

Eaxon,  Azariah  ...  23 

John 29 

Mrs.  Mary  ...  25 

Sarah 25 


31 


Fessenden.  Mrs.  Jona- 
than .... 
Fiske,  Samuel  . . . 

Flint,  Henry  .... 
Fogg,  Dr.  Daniel 
French,  Elizabeth  . . 

John  . . . .27, 

Elijah  .... 
Deacon  Moses  . . 

Glover,  Mrs.  Jerusha 
(Billings)  . . . 

Hayden,  Benjamin  . . 

Zebah  

Mrs.  Jacob  . . . 

Widow  Sarah  . . 

Hayward,  Joshua  . 12, 
Mrs.  Mary  . . . 

Mrs.  Margaret  . 
Mrs.  Sarah  . . . 

Mrs.  Hannah7  . . 

Mrs.  Simeon  . . 

Hollis,  Mrs.  James  . . 

Holbrook,  Samuel  . . 

Mrs.  Samuel  . 25, 
Hobart,  Nehemiah  . . 

Hunt,  Andrew  . . . 

Mrs.  Ephraim  . . 

Mrs.  Samuel  . . 

Mrs.  Caleb  . . . 

Rebecca  .... 
Jones,  Edward  . . . 

Mrs.  Mary  . . . 

Mrs.  Samuel  . . 

Ludden,  Mrs.  John  . . 

Marsh,  Joseph  . . . 

Mrs.  Abigail  . . 


Maud,  Daniel  . . . 

4 

Mayhew,  William 

12 

Mills,  Jonathan  . 

n, 

27 

Morley,  Dr.  John 

5 

Neal,  Jonathan  . . 

10, 

11 

Newcomb,  Mrs.  Samuel 

26 

Niles,  Elisha  . . . 

22 

Major  Jeremiah 

27, 

29 

Noyes,  Widow  Jane 

26 

Omond,  Mrs.  Sybil 

16 

Packard,  Polly  Daven- 

port  .... 

30 

Parmenter,  Joseph  . 

20 

Peaks,  Israel  . . . 

27 

Penniman,  Dea.  James 

28 

Joseph  . . 

12 

Rev.  Joseph 

27 

William  . . . 

27 

Stephen  . . . 

27 

Mrs.  Meshech  . 

26 

Pierce,  Nathan  or  Na- 

thaniel  . . . 

12 

Porter,  Jabez . . . 

12, 

29 

Ruth  .... 

30 

Mary  .... 

30 

Raws  on,  William  . 

9 

Rice,  Mr 

14 

Richards,  Abigail  . 

26 

Richardson,  Esther 

26 

Salisbury,  Ambrose 

27 

Savil,  Benjamin 

22 

Samuel  . . . 

17, 

29 

Sawin,  Eliphalet,  Jr. 

29 

Soper,  Edmund  . . 

27 

Taft,  Moses,  Jr. 

29 

Eleazer  . . . 

29 

16 

9 

5 

27 

25 

29 

29 

24 

16 

27 

27 

26 

26 

29 

25 

26 

26 

26 

30 

26 

27 

26 

10 

29 

30 

26 

26 

26 

29 

25 

16 

25 

11 

16 


32 


Taft,  Phineas  . . . 

29 

Seth,  Jr.  . . . 

30 

Sukey  ... 

30 

Benjamin  . 18, 

27, 

30 

Kate 

30 

Veazey,  Ebenezer  . 

18 

Thaxter,  John,  Jr.  . . 

12 

John  .... 

7 

Thayer,  Atherton 

27 

Josiah  .... 

18 

Bartholomew 

29 

Vinton,  Mrs.  Mary 

26 

Calvin 

27 

Wild,  Daniel  . . . 

30 

Elisha 

27 

Mrs.  Asa  . . 

26 

Isaac  

29 

Mrs.  Silas  . . 

26 

Jabez  

29 

Hannah  . 

30 

Lient.  Nathaniel  . 

27 

Mrs.  Susannah 

25 

Maj.  Samuel  Miller 

27 

Wales,  Atherton 

21 

Zaccheus  . . . . 

29 

Abigail  . . 

30 

Widow  Abigail  . . 

23 

Hannah  . 

26 

Phoebe  .... 

30 

Capt.  Jacob  . . 

30 

Mrs.  Josiah  . . . 

30 

Capt.  Nathaniel 

23, 

27 

Mrs.  Nathaniel 

26 

Webb,  Benjamin 

30 

Mrs.  Richard  . 

.56 

Nathan  . . 

11 

Mrs.  Samuel  W.  . 

26 

Weld,  Ludovicus 

27 

Thomas,  John,  Jr.  . . 

27 

White,  Thomas  . . 

27 

Tompson,  Benjamin  . 

6,  7 

Mrs.  Micah  . . 

30 

Turner,  Sally  .... 

30 

Wise,  Jeremiah  . 

7 

GENERAL  INDEX, 


Appropriation,  First  ... 

4 

Arnold,  Sheriff  Joseph  Neale 

17 

Centre  of  population  shifted 

. 8,  19,  27 

Cochato,  Purchase  from  Boston 

27 

Coddington,  William  . 

4 

Cost  of  Schools  ; 

6,  15,  18,  20,  28 

Committee,  First  School  . 

24 

for  schools  .... 

10 

to  apportion  money 

15 

to  erect  school-houses  . 

. 9,  19,  21 

Etter,  Peter,  School  at  house  of 

17 

First  school  in  South  Precinct 

29 

North  Precinct 

4 

Middle  Precinct 

20 

Germantown,  School  at  . 

11,  17 

Grammar  School 

6,  18,  14,  15 

Heating  of  school-house  . . . . 

. 9,  14 

Hough’s  Neck,  School  at  . 

. ^ 18 

Iron  Works,  School  at  ... 

22,  24,  25,  27 

Latin  school 

. 11,  13,  15 

La^w,  first  school 

3 

Legacy  for  schools  from  Samuel  Yeasey 

7 

Location  of  first  school-house  . 

5 

Marshall,  Samuel,  Suit  to  recover  school 

funds  . 8 

Middle  Precinct  (present  town) 

19 

Monatoquod,  School  at  ... 

20 

34 


North  Precinct  teachers 9 to  18 

Penniman,  James,  . 4 

Pond  district,  School  at 23 

Sale  of  school-house 5 

Salary  of  teachers  ....... 

6,  7,  9,  10,  13,  16,  17,  18,  20,  22,  23,  24,  26,  27 

School  terms 10,  14,  19,  20,  22,  26 

School  lands  ........  4 

Settlers  of  South  Precinct  from  Middle  Precinct  28 

North  Precinct  . 28 

Second  school-house  built 8 

Situation  of  school-houses,  5,  8,  13,  14,  19,  20,  21,  23,  29 

South  Precinct  teachers 29 

South  Precinct,  Proportion  of  school  funds  . 18,  21,  28 


* 


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Josselyn,  John.  Two  Voyages  to  New  England. 

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Smith,  John.  Description  of  New  England. 

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Smith,  John.  Advertisements  for  Unexperienced 
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With  Portrait  of  Author  and  Map. 

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Plymouth  Colony  Records. 

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